Hillcrest jumped out to an early 6-0 lead when quarterback Erik Bjorndahl hit Gabe Swedenberg with a 5 yard TD pass. 

Verndale scored less than five minutes later on a one yard run by Jaden Schulke and his two-point conversion run gave the Pirates an 8-6 lead.  Kole Dampha scored on an 11 yard run and added a two-point conversion for a 16-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Schulke scored from one yard out and added the two-point conversion run for a 24-6 lead.  He scored his third TD of the half with just 42 seconds remaining, on a 10 yard run and Schmitz took the ball in for two points and a 32-6 halftime lead for Verndale.

Corby Kern scored the first touchdown of the second half at the 6:53 mark of the third quarter for a 38-6 Pirate lead, but Lindgren’s 77 yard run came just 26 seconds later making the score 38-12.  With 48 seconds left in the quarter Dampha ran in from 30 yards out and Verndale led 44-12.

Each team scored a pair of fourth quarter TD’s with Lindgren getting his second of the night on a 13 yard run and Bjorndahl hitting Leo Nordick with a two-point conversion pass as the Comets cut the score to 44-20.  Midway through the fourth quarter Kern scored on a 15 yard run for a 50-20 Verndale lead and with five minutes remaining, Bjorndahl connected with Swedenberg on a 20 yard TD pass.  The extra point kick by Mathias Gjerme put the score at 50-27.  With 32 seconds to go in the game, Verndale scored on a 15 yard run for the final points of the night and a 56-27 final score.

Bjorndahl completed 14-of-29 passes for 164 yards and a pair of scores.  Swedenberg was the top receiver with 11 catches for 132 yards and two TD’s and returned five kicks for 95 yards.  Defensive leaders were Cole Peterson with 11 tackles and Micah Bermel with 9 tackles.

“We played hard from start to finish, just didn’t make the plays when they mattered,” stated Hillcrest Head Coach Korey Fry.  “Missed tackles and penalties really hurt us.  Defensively, we struggled all night getting off the field.”

The Comets return to action next week at home against the Hancock Owls.